A tight contest turned in the second half on a try three minutes from time by Mike Evans which was converted by Jack Maynard to take the game away from the highly competitive Quins. It was 8-6 at the break and it wasn’t until the second home score that the pints were safely in the bag.
Rhodri Davies crossed for a try after 28 minutes to give the Drovers the lead and Maynard added the extras. The Quins lost prop Ian Jones to a yellow card after 11 minutes and then saw hooker Ryan Elias take a 10 minute break when he saw yellow fur minutes before the interval.
Even though they were reduced to 14 men, the Quins conjured up their only score of the game when centre Iolo Evans raced over for a try that cut the gap to two points. They were unable to add to their tally in the second half and Craig Evans missed with an 80th minute penalty that would have secured a losing bonus point.
The win pushed the Drovers into second place in the table thanks to the postponement of the game between Cross Keys and Newport at Pandy Park. It also means that in one of the tightest and most competitive Premiership seasons on record there are just four points separating the top five teams.
Llandovery host 11th placed Bridgend at the weekend, while it is first against third at Ponypridd’s Sardis Road, where Newport are the visitors to the reigning champions. Second placed Cross Keys host Bedwas.
Principality Premiership Matches (2 January)
Aberavon v Carmarthen Quins; Cardiff v Llanelli; Cross Keys v Bedwas; Llandovery v Bridgend; Neath v Ebbw Vale; Pontypridd v Newport
